Homeownership Dreams Come True

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It was quite a thrill for the town of Troy to have two cabinet level secretaries visit their bustling community just north of St. Louis that has a population of approximately 7,000 people. And it was a thrill for HUD Secretary Mel Martinez and Agriculture Secretary Ann Veneman to see the smiles on the faces of the two families when they congratulated them and welcomed them to the American Dream of homeownership. But the biggest thrill of all was Secretary Martinez bending down and lifting one of the Harris children, Blake, into his arms and asking the five-year-old to say a few words to the crowd who had gathered outside the Harris' home. Blake, leaning into the microphone, said, "Thank you to all the nice people for coming to see my nice new house."

A few minutes later both families received welcome mats and American flags from Secretary Martinez and Secretary Veneman.

The Harris family, Richard and Kristina and children Blake and Trenton, received a $22,745 loan from Missouri-based Peoples Bank and a $68,225 loan from the USDA. Their new three-bedroom home has 1,008 sq. foot that features a two-car garage and a basement.

Right down the street, the Hanks family, single-mom Pamela and children Timothy, Matthew and Nicholas, received a $23,370 loan from Peoples and a $70,100 loan from the USDA.